Meeting Summary
The city council received a presentation of task force recommendations for police and social services, focusing on community collaboration, mental health support, and neighborhood strengthening. Discussions highlighted existing resources, potential areas for expansion, and the need for further public engagement and funding strategies. Immediate action on recommendations is pending the outcome of a lawsuit regarding diverted police funds.
Upcoming Community Events
Cleveland County Mental Health Task Force Meeting
Public meeting via Zoom; contact Brenda Hall for details.
Financial Matters
Diverted Police Department funds
$865,000 was diverted from the police department budget to other programs; currently subject to pending litigation.
Management Partners consulting fees
Paid for assistance in conducting research and facilitating task force sessions.
Juvenile Intervention Center (JIC) funding
Previously funded by the city (up to $60,000 annually from a seizure account) and other agencies, but discontinued due to high cost per child ($800-900) and availability of alternatives like Pivot (less than half the cost).
Mobile crisis service units device grant
Grant received to purchase 409 devices (iPads, phones, hotspots) to support virtual mobile crisis responses.
Neighborhood Alliance partnership proposal
Proposal for dedicated staff support, workshops, and leadership programs to strengthen neighborhoods.
Coming Up
Deadlines
- December 10th: Trial date for lawsuit regarding diverted police funds
Watch For
- Further public discussions on task force recommendations
- Budget discussions for FYE 22 to consider funding recommendations
- Exploration of interagency collaboration models like the Cleveland County Mental Health Task Force
Agenda Summary
Creating a physical hub for social service agency collaboration
Recommendation for a one-stop physical space for various non-profits and social service providers to collaborate, share resources, and offer direct services to residents in need.
Publicizing existing service options for community members
Recommendation to improve communication about available social services and volunteer opportunities, potentially through the city's website and other multilingual formats.
Expanding services using multilingual resources
Recommendation to enhance the availability of city and social services in multiple languages, building on recent efforts with census and COVID-19.
Expanding the hours of current mobile crisis service units
Recommendation to extend the operating hours of mobile crisis service units, particularly the adult team which currently operates 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday, to provide 24/7 coverage like the children's team.
Identifying resources to expand telemedicine
Recommendation to secure funding and devices to support virtual mental health responses, building on a recent grant for 409 devices.
Augmenting police services with a range of social service providers
Recommendation to enhance collaboration between police and social service providers, including the development of a Behavioral Health Response and Treatment Team, to address mental health and other social issues.
Identifying policing approaches for officers in soft uniforms
Recommendation to explore the use of 'soft uniforms' (street clothes with police identification) for officers responding to certain calls, aiming for a less aggressive appearance while maintaining authority.
Identifying resources to reinstitute the juvenile intervention center
Recommendation to explore reinstating a local juvenile intervention center, which previously provided a quicker alternative to detention for juveniles with criminal violations or status offenses, and was previously funded by the city and other agencies.
Highlight and facilitate greater interagency collaboration
Recommendation to improve communication and collaboration among various social service agencies to avoid duplicating services and ensure residents are aware of all available resources.
Strengthening neighborhoods through community outreach
Recommendation to partner with the Neighborhood Alliance of Central Oklahoma to organize neighborhood associations, educate citizens on municipal functions, and develop neighborhood leadership programs.
Mosaicos program expansion
Recommendation to expand the Mosaicos program, which supports Hispanic/Latino children and families in elementary schools with extra programming and parent resources, to other at-risk youth populations and schools.